Confectionery dispenser with detergent cleaning system

ABSTRACT

A dispenser (1) for filling containers with confectionery such as ice cream includes a plurality of filler nozzles (2) with inlet openings (27, 28) and nozzle tips (3, 7), in each filler nozzle including a filler piston (9) displaceable in a filler housing (10). The filler housing and the filler piston are produced from a stainless steel with a treatment so that these surfaces can move together without tearing and at the same time are produced with such tolerances that the gap formed between the piston and the housing is impermeable to the confectionery but not impermeable to liquid. A hose/pipe arrangement (40) for detergent is connectable with the inlet openings (27, 28) and the nozzle tips (37) for flushing and cleaning, the detergent passing through the gap between the piston (9) and the housing (10) to exit through a hollow space (50) and be flushed by the detergent introduced from at least one nozzle tip (37). Owing to this, complete flushing/cleaning of the nozzle arrangement (1) is obtained.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION.

The present invention relates to a nozzle arrangement for use in fillinga confectionery product into containers wherein a row of adjacent fillernozzles are arranged in a common rack, each of the filler nozzlesincluding a filler housing with one or more inlet openings, a nozzle tipconnected with the filler housing for outlet of the confectioneryproduct and a filler piston, which is displaceable in the filler housingto open/close the inlet openings and the tip, wherein the row ofadjacent filler nozzles is arranged to activate the filler pistons bymeans of a common actuating shaft, and wherein the inlet openings of thenozzles and the filler tip have connecting pieces designed to beconnected with a hose/pipe arrangement for a detergent.

The invention may be used for filling any confectionery productcontaining air and consequently being compressible. such as ice cream.sorbet. mousse and the like. The invention will be explained in relationto ice cream but is not limited to that product alone.

Ice cream filling machines with nozzle arrangements of the typedescribed are known, e.g., from EP 0.287,194. The known machines aredisadvantageous, however, since these machines are difficult to clean.Problems of cleaning particularly arise because separate dynamic gasketsare used between the filler piston and the filler housing of the fillernozzle. In the tracks in which the gaskets are placed there will be arisk of insufficient cleaning when flushing with detergents with aresulting risk of bacterial growth.

Also known are filling arrangements of the type described withoutdynamic gaskets, but wherein the piston is produced from German silverinstead. However, such constructions will also not permit cleaning byflushing with a detergent. Furthermore. they are disadvantageous due tothe risk that the ice cream may be polluted by metal particles.

The known nozzle arrangements are further disadvantageous because aseparate adjustment of the discharge of each individual nozzle unit in arow is required. This may cause quite considerable difficulties inobtaining a uniform filling of the containers, which are conveyed inadjacent rows, one row being conveyed under each filler nozzle of thenozzle arrangement. Thus, it is important that a uniform amount of icecream is discharged into each container.

The ice cream will normally be conveyed to filler nozzles from an icecream freezer by a well-known method, the so-called time-elapseprinciple. This means that the time of filling is dependent on the timewhen nozzles are open and that the amount of filling depends on thepressure built up in feeding hoses during nozzle closure and on the flowof ice cream from the ice cream freezer. Hitherto the uniform fillingthrough all nozzles has been obtained by regulating the flow resistance.which is of great importance to correct filling, in each individualnozzle by inserting a flow valve to control the flow resistance beforeeach individual filler nozzle. This is obviously a technicallycomplicated construction. Although it is possible to regulate the flowresistance by adjustment of the flow valve, the construction will stillbe very difficult to clean in a reliable manner by flushing with adetergent.

Furthermore, the known valve arrangement will make it difficult toproduce ice cream products containing filling pieces such as fruit,chocolate, or nougat. Due to the flow valves there will be a risk thatfilling pieces, which have to pass through the valve, will instead getstuck and cause a disturbance of the desired and intended flowresistance to which the flow valve is adjusted in relation to eachindividual filler nozzle.

In the known machines there will further be a difficulty in performing acorrect stop of the filling with the known filler nozzles. Thus, it is afrequent experience that under the filling nozzle and in the top of thefilled container there will be a conic remainder of ice cream, aso-called snip. The conic ice cream mass may drop from the filler nozzletip onto apparatuses underneath before a subsequent container is broughtinto position under a filler nozzle. Thus, this results in a pollutionrisk.

Furthermore, the upright conic projection in the filled container willbe undesirable in consideration of the aesthetic appearance of the iceproduct produced. The conic projection may also be undesirable in theice product formed in the container as there may arise problems withsubsequent placement of chocolate and garnish on top of the ice cream orin subsequent placement of a lid on the container.

Furthermore, the formed snip may cause a disturbance in a pattern whenproducing ice cream products with different tastes/colours in the icecream , which is introduced into the filler nozzle through differentcream inlet openings.

It is the object of the present invention to remedy the disadvantages ofthe known filling arrangements and to provide a nozzle arrangement thatis easy to clean and which permits at the same time a correct filling ofcontainers with an ice cream, which may contain filling pieces. e.g., offruit. chocolate or nougat.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This is obtained according to the present invention by an apparatuscharacterised in that the piston and the filler housing are producedwith tolerances of the piston and the filler housing so as to create anannular gap that is impermeable to confectionery product but notimpermeable to liquid. and that the hose/pipe arrangement is arranged tolet the detergent in through the inlet openings of the nozzles and tolet the liquid out via the nozzle tips, and that at least one nozzle tipis connected via the hose/pipe arrangement with the common rack, whichincludes a hollow space letting the detergent through the rack to washthe filler housings behind the pistons.

As the piston and the filler housing are produced with tolerances sothat a viscous confectionery product will not be able to pass throughthe gap between the piston and the filler housing, and since the gap isproduced with such tolerances that a light-fluid detergent may bepressed through the annular gap between the filler piston and the fillerhousing when applying the pressure ordinarily occurring in detergent. areliable cleaning is obtained. As no kinds of loose gaskets in the formof 0-rings or the like are used, it will be possible to perform acomplete cleaning of the system when it is flushed with detergent. Itshould be noted that during cleaning of the nozzle arrangement thefiller piston will be activated at intervals. This ensures that thedetergent introduced through the connection pieces at the inlet openingsis able to pass into the gap between the filler piston and the fillerhousing.

With a nozzle arrangement in which the filler housing and piston areproduced from stainless steel that is surface hardened, preferably by aso-called Hardcor treatment, it will be possible to obtain a very smoothand hard surface. Thus, it will be possible that the piston and thehousing may be produced from stainless steel of approved quality for usein the production of food. Furthermore, the surface will be produced sothat the piston and the housing run together without tearing at thereciprocating movement of the piston. Alternatively, the piston andfiller housing may be produced from a ceramic material or from plastic.

A hose/pipe arrangement for detergent may easily be connected to thenozzle arrangement. Inlet of detergent will take place through ice creamfeeding hoses and via the inlet opening of each filler nozzle. Theliquid then flows into the filler housing and the major part will exitthrough the nozzle tips whereas a minor part of the liquid detergentwill pass behind the piston whereby cleaning of the gap between thefiller piston and the filler housing is performed. If the nozzle tipshave a member for building up a pressure resistance, a particularlygreat reliability of obtaining the intended flow of detergent throughthe nozzle arrangement is obtained.

The tip of at least one of the filler nozzles is connected with thecommon rack or the common housing on which the nozzle arrangement ismounted. In this manner it is ensured that the detergent will be ledthrough a hollow spacing, which communicates with each filler housing sothat the detergent may be led through the rack to obtain an effectiveflushing of the filler housings behind the filler pistons. Thus thedetergent will be let out of the nozzle arrangement via an outlet thatis connected with the hollow rack.

Each filler nozzle is connected, via a manifold, with an ice creamfreezer. In order to obtain uniform filling of containers passingunderneath the filler nozzles, a regulating member is placed between thecommon actuating shaft and each piston. By this means the stroke of thepiston may be adjusted. As a well-defined ice cream is conveyed to themanifold, a reduced discharge from a single filler nozzle will lead toincreased filling from the other filler nozzles.

If the regulating member is an air spring, a construction is obtainedwhich is particularly easy to clean. As the chamber of the spring isconnected with a hollow space in the common actuating shaft, a largebuffer is obtained. Therefore, it is possible to use a relatively shorthose connection. This increases the ease of the cleaning. At the sametime the buffer will make it possible to form a spring with a relativelysmall extension and having a substantially unchanged springcharacteristic at different mutual positions of the cylinder housing andpiston of the air spring. Thus, the air spring may easily be placed inthe relatively limited space that exists at the rod connection betweenthe rocker arm of the actuating shaft and the filler piston.

In a nozzle arrangement in which the top of the filler piston isprovided with a projecting nose extending into the nozzle tip, anelongated annular channel is formed. Such an elongated annular channelmay have a relatively large cross section area, which permits passage offilling pieces while at the same time a predetermined desired flowresistance through the filler nozzle is maintained. In this manner itwill be possible to obtain a cleaning-friendly nozzle arrangement inwhich no flow valve is used before each filler nozzle. Flow regulationfor control of the flow resistance in each filler nozzle may thus beobtained by adapting the length of the formed channel between theprojecting nose and the nozzle tip as well as the cross section area ofsaid annular channel.

The nozzle arrangement according to the invention may have a fillerpiston that is hollow in order thus to permit the production of productswith different flavours/colours, which are formed as so-called windmillpatterns or in so-called side-by-side patterns.

The ice cream may also contain filling pieces. The filling pieces willnot produce an undesirable effect on and change of the flow resistancethrough the filler nozzles, as the filling pieces will easily passthrough the cream inlet openings and the passages/hollow spaces formedby the filler piston. Subsequently the filling pieces will easily passthrough the annular channel used to regulate the flow resistance throughthe filler nozzle. Thus, this annular channel may have a relativelylarge cross section and simultaneously a sufficiently large flowresistance. This is possible as the annular channel has a relativelylarge extension in axial direction, whereby the flow resistance is builtup.

Furthermore, it will be possible to make a precise regulation of theflow resistance, since it is easy to regulate the length of the annularchannel. This construction will be very cleaning-friendly. and therewill be no risk that filling pieces will become stuck in the fillernozzles.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.

The invention will now be explained in detail with reference to theaccompanying drawings, wherein

FIG. 1 shows a side view, partly sectional, of a nozzle arrangementaccording to the invention, as well as parts of an ice cream fillingapparatus in which it is used;

FIGS. 2 and 3 show respectively a side view, and a sectional viewthrough parts of the filling apparatus to illustrate the principle incleaning;

FIG. 4 shows a plan view of a nozzle arrangement according to theinvention;

FIG. 5 shows a sectional view through the nozzle arrangement shown inFIG. 4 according to the line 5-5;

FIG. 6 shows at view of the nozzle arrangement shown in FIG. 1 accordingto the arrows 6-6;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show respectively a plan view and a side view of thenozzle arrangement according to the invention connected with a hose/pipearrangement for detergent;

FIGS. 9 and 10 show views, partly sectional, of a first embodiment of afiller nozzle for use in a nozzle arrangement according to theinvention;

FIG. 11 illustrates ice cream products that may be produced by using thefiller nozzle shown in FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIGS. 12 and 13 show views corresponding to FIGS. 9 and 10 of a secondembodiment of a filler nozzle for use in a nozzle arrangement accordingto the invention; and

FIG. 14 illustrates ice cream products that may be produced by using thefiller nozzle shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows a nozzle arrangement 1 including four adjacent fillernozzles 2. Alternatively, a different number may be used, e.g., six oreight adjacent filler nozzles 2. The filler nozzles 2 are arranged in arow in a common rack 3 so that that they may be actuated by a commonpivot shaft 4. The rack 3 with the filler nozzles 2 arranged on it ismoved in a movement up and down established via a rod connection 5 by acam disc 6 rotating around a shaft 7. The cam disc 6 has an outercontour 8, which guides the movement of the rack 3.

The manner in which the common pivot shaft 4 actuates filler pistons 9(see FIG. 3) arranged in a filler housing 10 of each filler nozzle 2will be explained with simultaneous reference to FIGS. 1, 5 and 6.Fastened on the rack 3 is an air cylinder 12 which includes a cylinderhousing 13 and a piston 14. The piston 14 is connected via a rocker arm15 with the shaft 4 to give it its rotating movement back and forth. Theair cylinder 12 is provided with air by hoses 16, 17.

The pivot shaft 4 is connected via rocker arms 18 with an air spring inthe form of a cylinder housing 20 of an air cylinder 19. It should benoted at first that,instead of the air cylinder 19 functioning as an airspring, it will be possible to use a different spring having asubstantially constant spring characteristic. However. such a differentspring will be difficult to clean and requires much space.

The air cylinder 19 further includes a piston 21. The air cylinder 19 isa part of a rod connection 22 connecting the rocker arm 18 with thefiller piston 9 of a filler nozzle 2. The piston 21 of the air cylinder19 is in contact with a regulating spindle 23. The regulating spindle 23is provided with a thread 24 and a screw cap 25. Thus it is possible forthe spindle 23, via a pressing means 26, to press the piston 21 a largeror smaller distance into the housing 20 so that the total length of theair cylinder 19 may be adjusted. This effects the stroke of the fillerpiston 9 in the filler housing 10 and thus also the amount of ice creamto be discharged by each stroke of the piston 9.

The filler housing 10 of each filler nozzle 2 in the embodiment shownhas two ice cream inlet openings 27, 28. Each ice cream inlet opening27. 28 is provided with a connection piece 29. 30. which is connectedwith a manifold 31. 32. which is connected via hoses 42. 43 and a branchpipe 33 with an inlet conduit 34. which is connected with an ice creamfreezer (not shown). By adjusting the spindle 23 the amount dischargedby each filler nozzle may be adjusted, and since a constant amount ofice cream is let into a manifold, it will be possible to obtain auniform discharge of ice cream from all filler nozzles 2 in a row. Thisis important in respect of correct filling of containers used, which, asshown in FIGS. 11 and 14, may be cones 35, cups 36 or buckets (notshown).

The filler nozzle 2 and the filler housing 10 are provided withco-operating surfaces, which have been given a Hardcor treatment. Thus,these parts are produced from stainless steel having a surface which isable to run together without tearing. The tolerances are arranged sothat the annular gap formed between them will be impermeable to icecream but not to liquid. In other words, this means that during afilling process ice cream will not get behind the pistons 9, whereasduring cleaning (which will be explained below), it will be possible topress a detergent through this gap in order to obtain total cleaning ofthe nozzle arrangement.

The ice cream fed to the filler nozzle 2 via the inlet openings 27, 28is pressed out into a container via a nozzle tip 37. The nozzle tip 37and the piston 9 will appear most clearly from FIGS. 9, 10 and 12, 13.At its top the piston 9 has a piston nose 38, which, in the closed stateof the filler nozzle (FIGS. 10 and 13), projects into the nozzle tip 37so that an elongated annular channel 39 is formed between these twoelements. This channel 39 is used for adjusting the flow resistancethrough the filler nozzle 2. In this manner it is possible to have arelatively large cross section area which permits filling pieces to passthrough the filler nozzle 2, while an adequate flow resistance may beobtained by giving the annular channel 39 an adequate extension in axialdirection.

As the piston nose 38 projects into the tip 37, the volume of the latterwill be relatively small whereby it will be possible to avoid theformation of a cone-shaped remainder of ice cream outside the dischargeopening 37' of the tip 37 and in the top of a container. In this mannerthere will be no risk of pollution of the apparatus by ice creamdripping down from the filler nozzle 2 without a container being locatedunder the opening 37'. Furthermore. there will also not be any risk ofdifficulties in closing the container with a lid. Finally, placingchocolate and other garnish on top of the ice cream will not be madedifficult due to a projecting cone shape in the ice cream productformed.

The nozzle arrangement 1 is designed so that it may be connected with ahose/pipe arrangement 40 for a detergent, which is used to clean thenozzle arrangement 1.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a schematic manner in which the hose/pipearrangement 40 is coupled with the nozzle tips 37 of the nozzlearrangement 1, and FIGS. 7 and 8 show how the hose/pipe arrangement isconnected with the shown nozzle arrangement 1.

Detergent is let in at 41 through the inlet openings 27, 28 of thefiller nozzles 2. These inlet openings are provided with the connectionpieces 29, 30 for fastening the ice cream manifolds 31, 32. Thedetergent flows through the ice cream freezer, the inlet 34, the branchpipe 33, the manifolds 31, 32 and the inlet openings 27, 28 into thenozzle arrangement 1 according to the arrows 44. The detergent is let invia the inlet openings 27, 28 to all the filler nozzles 2. The liquid istaken out through the nozzle tips 37 and the hose/pipe arrangement 40.

In the embodiment shown, three of the nozzle tips 37 are connected viahoses 45 with a connection pipe 46, which leads the detergent through abranch piece 47 to an outlet hose 48. The fourth nozzle tip 37 isconnected with a hose 49, which leads the liquid to a hollow space 50 inthe rack 3 of the apparatus. The hollow space 50 is connected with eachfiller housing 10 so that the detergent is led through the hollow space50 of the rack 3 to wash the filler housings 10 in a position behind thefiller pistons 9. The detergent is led from the hollow space 50 via aconnection piece 51 on the branch piece 47 and from there out throughthe outlet hose 48.

As the tolerances between the filler pistons 9 and the filler housing 10permit liquid to pass through the gap formed between them, a totalcleaning of the hose arrangement 1 is obtained. As smooth surfaces areused. there is no risk of defective cleaning such as may occur whenusing dynamic gaskets between the filler piston 9 and the filler housing10. As the nozzle tips 37 are provided. when coupled with the hoses 44,with a member for building up a pressure resistance in the form ofcontractions (not shown), a pressure is built up in the filler nozzles 2ensuring that part of the liquid let through the inlet openings 27, 28is pressed through the gap between the piston 9 and the housing 10. Inorder to ensure complete flushing, the piston 9 is actuated at intervalsduring a flushing cycle.

A typical cleaning takes place by first performing a prewash with waterat room temperature before the hose/pipe arrangement 40 is connected.Subsequently, with connection of the hose/pipe arrangement 40, a hotwashing is performed with water at an elevated temperature, e.g., in theorder of 40-70° C. Subsequently a flushing is performed with detergent,which may have the same temperature. Finally a re-washing is performedwith water at room temperature. However, it will also be possible to useother cleaning procedures. E.g., this may be the case when not only anordinary cleaning/sterilisation is desired in connection with dailyoperation but it is desired instead to perform a cleaning in order toremove calcareous or lacteous deposits or in order to pacify thestainless material.

Referring to FIGS. 5 and 9, next will follow an explanation of the aircylinder 19 inserted in the rod connection 22 between the rocker arm 18of the pivot shaft 4 and the filler piston 9.

The housing 20 of the air cylinder 19 is connected with the rocker arm18 at 52. In this manner the housing 20 may be subjected to areciprocating movement. The piston 21 is provided with sealings 53tightening against the cylinder housing 20. and sealings 55 are alsoplaced at the passage of the piston rod 54 of the piston 21 through thehousing 20. Thus, an airtight chamber 56 is formed inside the cylinder19. The chamber 56 is connected via a hose connection 57 with a hollowspace 58 inside the pivot shaft 4. By using a large hollow space 58 inthe shaft 4 a large buffer of air is obtained rather than just havingthe volume of the chamber 56. In this manner an air spring with a veryflat characteristic is obtained. This is important as the springcharacteristic must not be changed even if the spindle 23 is adjusted togive the filler piston 9 a larger or smaller stroke. As the pivot shaft4 is used as a pressure reservoir, the hose connection 57 may be veryshort and consequently very easy to clean.

In FIGS. 9 and 10 a first embodiment of the filler piston 9 is seen inan open, respectively a closed state. The piston 9 is of a so-calledpiston valve type, which is provided with a projecting piston nose 38.This piston is solid. The piston 9 has an annular contact surface 59,which is in engagement with the inner side of the filler housing 10.When the annular surface 59 has passed by the lowest point 60, 61 of theinlet openings 27, 28, the ice cream inlet through the connection pieces29, 30 will be blocked. In this position a container located underneath,which has been filled, will be displaced whereupon a new empty containeris placed under the opening 40 in the nozzle tip 37. When the fillernozzle 2 is open, such as shown in FIG. 9, a sufficiently large passageis formed for filling pieces to pass down through the inlet openings 27,28 and out through the tip 37. During its closing movement. the piston 9has a cutting function so that filling pieces located partly in theinlet openings 27. 28 and the chamber will be cut through duringclosing. When the filler nozzle 2 is closed. as shown in FIG. 10, theannular channel 39 will have a sufficient cross section area for fillingpieces to be located therein without disturbing a correct closingfunction. Thus, with such a filler nozzle it will be possible to producean ice cream having filling pieces.

As shown in FIG. 11. it is possible to supply the same type of ice creamfrom both inlet openings 27, 28 in order to form a uniform product in acone 35 or in a cup 36. By supplying different ice creams through thetwo inlet openings 27, 28, an ice cream product of the so-calledside-by-side type may be formed, wherein two different types of icecream are placed in a container. such as the cone 35 or the cup 36. Itwill be possible to use the same or different types of filling pieces inthe ice cream or ice creams supplied.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show a different embodiment of a filler nozzle accordingto the invention. Here a filler piston 9 is used that is different fromthe filler piston 9 shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. The filler piston 9 shownhere has a hollow in the form of an inner channel 62. Via a bore 63 thechannel 62 is in connection with the ice cream inlet 27 in the openposition of the filler nozzle 2 shown in FIG. 12. In this position theice cream inlet 28 is in connection with an annular chamber 64 formed byan annular track 65 in the piston 9. The annular chamber 64 is connectedwith a number of longitudinal channels 66, which are able to lead theice cream toward the tip 37. The bore 63 is connected via a number ofopenings 67 with a number of separate tracks 68 which, in thecircumferential direction, are positioned between the longitudinaltracks 66. In this manner the ice cream from the channel 62 is also ledtoward the tip. The channel 62, the annular track 65 and thelongitudinal tracks 66 and 68 are dimensioned such that filling piecesare able to pass through them uninhibited.

With a filler nozzle thus designed it will be possible to produceso-called windmill patterns, such as illustrated in FIG. 14.

It will also be possible to produce a concentric ice product. which isshown in the outmost right position in FIG. 14. This product is producedwhen the channel 62 leads into the tip directly through the piston noserather than through openings 67 and longitudinal tracks 68.

The filler piston 9 shown in FIGS. 12 and 13 are provided with aprojecting piston nose 38 to form an annular channel 39. The channel 39permits filling pieces to pass through without the risk of making acorrect closing of the filler nozzle 2 impossible. When the fillernozzle is closed, the ice cream inlet 27, 28 will not be in connectionwith the bore 63, respectively the annular chamber 64.

FIG. 14 shows products that may be produced by using the filler nozzle 2shown in FIGS. 12 and 13.

I claim:
 1. A dispenser apparatus for use in filling a confectioneryproduct into containers; said dispenser apparatus comprising a commonrack having a hollow channel therein, a row of adjacent filler nozzlesmounted on the common rack, each of the filler nozzles comprising afiller housing with at least one inlet opening, a nozzle tip connectedwith the filler housing for outlet of the confectionery product and afiller piston which is displaceable in the filler housing to open andclose the inlet opening and the tip; a common actuating shaft foractuating the filler pistons of the filler nozzles; and connectingpieces for connecting the inlet openings of the nozzles and the fillertip with a supply system for a detergent; wherein the piston and thefiller housing of each filler nozzle are dimensioned so as to create anannular gap therebetween that is impermeable to confectionery productbut not impermeable to liquid, wherein the supply system is connected tosupply detergent through the inlet openings of the filler housings andto convey the liquid out via the nozzle tips and wherein at least onenozzle tip is connected via the supply system with the hollow space forconveying the detergent through the rack to wash the filler housingsbehind the pistons.
 2. A dispenser apparatus according to claim 1,wherein the piston and the filler housing of each filler nozzle are madeof stainless steel and have cooperating surfaces that are surfacehardened.
 3. A dispenser apparatus according to claim 1, wherein thesupply system is connected with the nozzle tips via a connecting piecehaving a member for building up a pressure resistance.
 4. A dispenserapparatus according to claim 1, including a manifold for connecting eachof the inlet openings with an ice cream feeding station, and a rodconnection between the common actuating shaft and each piston, said rodconnection including a regulating member for adjustment of the stroke ofeach piston in order to obtain a uniform quantity outlet in all fillernozzles in a row.
 5. A dispenser apparatus according to claim 4, whereinthe regulating member is comprised of an air spring having a cylinderhousing connected with the common actuating shaft via a rocker arm and apiston connected with the filler piston, wherein the common actuatingshaft is hollow, and wherein the air spring chamber is connected via ahose with the hollow space in the common actuating shaft.
 6. A dispenserapparatus according to claim 5, wherein the regulating member furthercomprises a regulating spindle which is in engagement with the piston ofthe air spring to define the total length of the air spring.
 7. Adispenser apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filler piston is apiston valve designed to block the inlet openings and is provided at atop of the filler piston with a projecting nose that extends into thenozzle tip in order to form an elongated annular channel with the nozzletip.
 8. A dispenser apparatus according to claim 7, wherein members forcontrolling the flow resistance in each filler nozzle are comprised ofthe length and the cross section area of the annular channel formedbetween the nose of the piston valve and the nozzle tip.
 9. A dispenserapparatus according to claim 1, wherein the filler piston is hollow,wherein the hollow space is connected with an inlet opening, wherein thefiller piston has an annular track which is connected with one or morefurther inlet openings, and wherein the hollow space and the annulartrack are connected with a number of separate longitudinal tracks at atop of the piston in order to lead the confectionery toward the tip. 10.A dispenser apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each piston issolid.